Naukane

Who was Naukane?

Naukane, also known as John Coxe, Edward Cox, and Coxe was a Native Hawaiian chief who traveled widely through North America in the early 19th century. He was either considered a member of the royal household of Kamehameha I or a chiefly retainer, possibly the same person as Noukana, the son of High Chief Kamanawa, the King's uncle and trusted advisor.

In 1811 theTonquin, belonging to the American Pacific Fur Company, stopped on Oahu and recruited twenty Hawaiians to work as labourers in the Pacific Northwest. King Kamehameha I appointed Naukane to join the group and look after the interests of Hawaiian laborers.

On the voyage to Fort Astoria on the Columbia River Naukane was given the name John Coxe, because he resembled a shipmate on the Tonquin.

Soon after Naukane arrived at Fort Astoria David Thompson of the Montreal-based North West Company also arrived. In July, 1811, Thompson and a group of Astorians began to journey up the Columbia River. The two parties traveled together until they reached the Columbia Gorge, after which Thompson went on ahead. Before parting ways there was an exchange of some of the workers. Thompson allowed his employee Michel Boulard to join the Pacific Fur Company in exchange for Naukane, who Thompson referred to as Coxe. Boulard was a 40 year old voyageur who had worked with Thompson off and on for the previous eleven years. Boulard, although weaker with age, was useful to the Astorians for his great knowledge of geography and native affairs. In contrast, Naukane was valuable to Thompson for his great strength. Naukane traveled with Thompson as far as Spokane House. There he was left with Jaco Finlay while Thompson continued rapidly on. Soon Naukane was traveling east as well, crossing the continent to Fort William on Lake Superior. From there he traveled by water to Quebec. In 1812 the ship Isaac Todd took him to England. In 1813 he returned to the Pacific Northwest on the British warship HMS Racoon.